Description
Start Date-End Date: 04/14/2016-04/14/2016
Land Manager Office: AloTerra Restoration Services
Land Manager Contact: John Giordanengo
Funding Partner:
Programmatic Partner:
Summary: NOTE: Registration for this opportunity is FULL. If you register, you will be placed on the wait list. As space becomes available, we will move individuals off the wait list.
Description: About the Stewardship Site
A key tributary of the South Platte, the Big Thompson River flows nearly 80 miles across multiple ecosystems from its source in Rocky Mountain National Park, to its confluence with the Platte on the plains near Greeley. The exact stewardship site where volunteers will be working is on a section of the river at the mouth of scenic Big Thompson Canyon.
About the Volunteer Experience
Since 2013, flooding has increased along many Front Range watersheds, to the detriment of local ecosystems and communities. With much of the native flora not having yet reestablished itself, this neck of the riparian woods has great potential for improvement. Tasks will include revegetation (i.e. willow staking, seeding, and planting) to encourage the regrowth native riverside plants, as well as laying down erosion control structures to stabilize the bank. This is a great project for first-time volunteers ages 12 and up who want to learn about and take part in ecological restoration! Light breakfast fare and lunch will be provided.
About the Overall Impact
Volunteers' efforts on this project will ultimately provide great benefit to the river habitat and the Northern Front Range community by way of shading the stream to keep water temperatures down, providing leaves and stems that feed and harbor aquatic organisms, and stabilizing banks to reduce the impacts of future floods.
Latitude/Longitude: 40.409895, -105.162131
Additional Information:
Camping Available: No
Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate
High Altitude Project: No
Desired Number of Volunteers: 50
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 53
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0
Total Volunteer Days: 52
Total Unique Volunteers: 53
Total Volunteer Hours: 360
Staff Hours: 45
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary: 56 volunteers came out for VOC's second Riparian Restoration Project on the Big Thompson River west of Loveland. Working along the north shore, volunteers seeded 2.6 acres with native seed mix and 180 native Riparian plants. These improvements will help to restore the native riparian ecosystem that was severly damaged during the flooding of 2013.
Successes and Challenges: Lots of logistical challenges due to an 11th hour location change, but the project was pulled off well.
Lessons Learned:
Special Notes: Lunch donation from Subway.
Stewardship Education: Volunteers received an introduction to the area's ecology from project partner John Giordanengo
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers:
Description of Accidents/Incidents: Jennifer Rosenthal suffered mild heat exhaustion in the afternoon. After resting in the shade and drinking water, staff got her in the A/C of the trucks and drove her back to her car. She left under her own power. Emma Walker sent a follow up email to check on her.
Description of Work Completed:
Details
| 12 and older |
